Coal stockpiles at US power plants totaled 144.2 million st at the end of August, down 2.6% from July and down 10.1% from the year-ago month, according to Energy Information Administration data issued late Tuesday.
The agency's Electric Power Monthly report showed power-sector stockpiles were drawn down by 3.9 million st from the end of July, compared with a five-year average drawdown of 5.3 million st.
As a result of the smaller draw, power sector stockpiles at the end of August were down 6.5% from the five-year average for the month.
By rank, bituminous coal inventories stood at 60.2 million st at the end of August, down 3% from July, down 12.1% from the year-ago month and down 14% from the five-year average for the month.
Subbituminous coal stockpiles stood at 77.3 million st at the end of August, down 5.4% from July, down 11.8% from the year-ago month and down 2.1% from the five-year average for the month.
On a days of burn basis, stockpiles remain elevated. The agency reported inventories at plants that burn bituminous coal stood at 88 days at the end of August, up 15.8% from July, down 1.1% from the year-ago month but up 6.5% from the five-year average.
At plants that burn subbituminous coal, inventories stood at 80 days of burn at the end of August, up 11.1% from July, down 4.8% from the year-ago month but up 18% from the five-year average for the month.
